This matter of unity must not be misunderstood as prohibiting the inclusion of more than one topic in a speech.  A legislator in urging the repeal of a law might have several topics, such as how the law was passed, its first operations, its increasing burdens upon people, the disappearance of the necessity for it, better methods of securing the same or better results, etc., yet all grouped about the motivating theme of securing the repeal of the law.  To emphasize the greatness of a man’s career a speaker might introduce such topics as his obscure origin, his unmarked youth, the spur that stimulated his ambition, his early reverses, provided that they contribute to the impression intended, to make vivid his real achievements.

In early attempts at delivering speeches don’t be afraid to pause at certain places to consider whether what you are about to say really contributes to the unity or destroys it.  Aside from helping you to think upon your feet, this mental exercise will help your speech by making you pause at times—­a feature of speaking often entirely disregarded by many persons.

Coherence.  The second quality a finished composition should have is coherence.  If you know what cohere and cohesion mean (perhaps you have met these words in science study) you have the germ of the term’s meaning.  It means “stick-together-itive-ness.”  The parts of a speech should be so interrelated that every part leads up to all that follows.  Likewise every part develops naturally from all that goes before, as well as what immediately precedes.  There must be a continuity running straight through the material from start to finish.  Parts should be placed where they fit best.  Each portion should be so placed—­at least, in thought—­that all before leads naturally and consistently up to it, and it carries on the thread to whatever follows.  This prevents rude breaks in the development of thought.  Skilfully done, it aids the hearer to remember, because so easily did the thought in the speech move from one point to another, that he can carry the line of its progression with him long after.  So the attainment of coherence in a speech contributes directly to that desired end—­a deep impression.

Incoherent speeches are so mainly because of absence of plan, whether they be short or long, conversational or formal.

Emphasis.  The third quality a speech should have is emphasis.  Applied to a connected sequence of words this means that what is of most importance shall stand out most forcefully; that what is not so important shall show its subordinate relation by its position, its connection with what goes before and after; that what is least important shall receive no emphasis beyond its just due.  Such manipulation requires planning and rearranging, careful weighing of the relative importance of all portions.  Recall what was said of the place of the most important part.